The Crescent of Beverly Hills

By Contributing Writer, David Duran (@TheeMuki)
Originally and exclusively published in Connextions Magazine Issue 14.

Ah, Beverly Hills, the place where the rich and famous live. The beautifully manicured streets, lined with high-end shopping and obnoxious tour busses passing by, trying to catch a glimpse of a celebrity. We’ve all seen it on television and on the big screen, but most of us have not ventured to actually visit and stay the night. With so many great shops and restaurants inside the city, visitors shouldn’t quickly dismiss the opportunity to lodge themselves in Beverly Hills.

Originally constructed in 1927 and established the first boutique hotel in Beverly Hills, the Crescent Hotel is dead center in the best spot of the city. Directly across from the original MCA studios, the property played host to the studio’s stable of actors, giving this place a very colorful history. It’s also just two short blocks from Rodeo Drive and some of the best shopping in the world. The property is art deco architecture with an abundance of modern luxury. Having recently completed a full interior renovation, the Crescent, with its historical past, has been contemporized to fit the needs of the current traveler.

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Entering the new mini lobby of the hotel, guests are warmly greeted and made to feel more than at home. With extremely personalized attention, guests are escorted to their room, either on the first or second level. Each of the 35 rooms is unique in size, as the older property has been reconfigured throughout the year. Individually decorated to blend together and reflect the layered history, each room stands out on its own. The headboards in Grand King rooms and Prime Queen rooms feature digital art prints designed by Oliva Villaluz, while Petite Queen rooms feature locally designed upholstered and built-in headboards. Each room offers inviting warmth in a comfortably scaled setting with Libeco Belgian linens, down pillows and quilted throws. Sleek concrete bathrooms are outfitted with plush towels, kimono-style yukata robes, and slippers. Additionally, each bathroom features skin-friendly seasonal and organic custom blended Crescent Hotel bath amenities.

The hotel offers a lounge with a palm-lined terrace for warm Southern California days, and an indoor-outdoor fireplace for candlelit evenings. The bar features classic as well as unique cocktails, small production wines and a good selection of craft beers. Cocktails like the Honey Bee, made with Honey Bourbon, maple, citrus and soda, and the Earl, made with Earl Grey Tea infused Gin, simple syrup and lemon juice, are among the favorites. In addition, there is a restaurant, currently open for breakfast and dinner, and run by Executive Chef Diana Hernandez (Soho House, Hotel Bel Air), who has created a guilty menu, that will not fit into the typical Beverly Hills starvation diet. From truffle fries to the most mouth-watering burger you can get in the area, Chef Diana is making sure that with the property renovations completed, her kitchen and menu were not left behind in the race to modernize the hotel.

The Itty-Bitty Room
Hidden within the 35 guest rooms are two, very itty-bitty gems. Each totaling just 130 sq. feet, including the bathroom, the two rooms are the area’s hottest rooms. Each is beautifully decorated and provides the same amenities as a standard room, but just in a tighter space. It’s the perfect room for a quick overnight guest, a local who might need a place to crash after a night out, or a super budget traveler. With a year-round rate of $99, the two rooms are in high-demand. The two rooms are not available to the general public on traditional hotel booking sites. If interested in an itty-bitty room, guests must call the hotel directly. The remaining 33 rooms range from $159-$249, still a steal for Beverly Hills.

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